GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG sophomore runner Lydia Saina (Eldoret, Kenya/Kapkenda Girls School) has been named this week’s Blue Chip Performer sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. This is the second year that BCBSNC has sponsored the Blue Chip Performer award, which is chosen weekly from all sports in season and runs throughout the 2013-14 UNCG Athletics season.

Saina continued her stellar improvement from her freshman season, posting a new personal-best time in the 6,000-meter distance at the prestigious NCAA Pre-National Invitational last weekend at LaVern Gbson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind., the home of the 2013 NCAA National Championships.

Saina posted a time of 21:22.88 to finish 90th overall in the highly competitive meet. She shattered her previous top time by almost two minutes. Her previous time of 23:09.50 was set last season at the same Pre-National race in Louisville.

Saina and the Spartans return to action Nov. 2 as they travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the 2013 Southern Conference Championships.